André Cluytens: The Complete Orchestral Recordings (65CD)

The artist ü Born into a musical family in Antwerp in 1905, André Cluytens became a French citizen in 1940. ü He trained and began his career in Antwerp, moving to France in 1932 to take up a post at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. ü In the course of his career he held posts at several major French opera houses and orchestras, but he also enjoyed great success at the Bayreuth Festival (he was the first French conductor to appear there), in Berlin and Vienna, and recorded with the Philharmonia in London. He also appeared with the New York Philharmonic. ü Cluytens’ considerable discography, which included many bestsellers, was produced for Columbia, Parlophone, Pathé Marconi, La Voix de son Maître & His Master Voice between the early 1940s and the mid-1960s. ü The respected record critic Robert Layton has described Cluytens as a conductor “unconcerned with imposing his own ego on the score; he illuminated the way rather than got in the way. His refined musicianship and unfailing taste shine through all the recordings he has left us.” ü Cluytens achieved distinction in a wide repertoire, as this 64-disc collection of orchestral/concerto and choral music attests. He also conducted a number of celebrated operatic recordings, including Faust and Les Contes d’Hoffmann, both available on Warner Classics. ü He is the first conductor to have recorded the complete Beethoven Symphonies with Berliner Philharmoniker in 1957-60 - before Karajan! ü He was a mentor to the most prominent French conductor of the subsequent generation, Georges Prêtre. ü His career was somewhat curtailed by ill health in the 1960s. The boxset ü The 64 CDs in this boxset contain all Cluytens’ recordings of orchestral, concerto and choral repertoire, documenting his considerable achievements in these musical genres. ü More than 70 composers are represented and the repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the mid-20th century ü French music has an especially strong presence, but there is also music by composers from Germany (including the complete Beethoven symphonies), Austria, Italy, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Spain and the USA ü The repertoire ranges from the mainstream to rarities. It includes seldom-heard works by famous composers (eg Debussy, Stravinsky) and works by rarely-heard composers (eg Laparra, Pierné, Nigg, Delage, Bondeville). ü The set include many first-time releases. The producer of the set discovered a number of treasures in the Warner Classics archives, including unedited session tapes that have been carefully assembled for this release. 5 items released for the first time: - CD6: ROSSINI Semiramide: Overture; PIERNÉ Cydalise et le chèvre-pied - CD 13: CHABRIER España - CD 17: BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 (with Emil Gilels) - CD 26: HANDEL Water Music One item officially released for the first time - CD 1: BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 (with Monique de la Bruchollerie) 44 items appearing on CD for the first time (see in tracklist) 4 items appearing in stereo for the first time (see in tracklist) ü Cluytens’ strong relationships with particular orchestras are reflected in the collection: Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra Berliner Philharmoniker – Cluytens was the first conductor to record the entire cycle of Beethoven symphonies with this orchestra Wiener Philharmoniker Philharmonia Orchestra ü Other celebrated musicians appearing include: Aldo Ciccolini; Maurice Duruflé; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Zino Francescatti; Samson François; Nicolai Gedda; Emil Gilels; Marguerite Long; Victoria de Los Angeles; Marc